I’ve
fished with wet gloves in the past, in fact I fished with wet gloves a great
deal while in the Amazon when there were constant sudden downpours. Luckily it
was so hot in the jungle that the moisture didn’t bother me. The California
Delta is an entirely different case where fishing with wet gloves was a lot less
pleasant on all but the hottest days. It gets cold out here and running the boat
with wet gloves is no fun whatsoever. The good news for anglers and watersport
aficionados is that these particular gloves dry quite quickly.

The gloves dry
very quickly

When it comes to sun
protection the Buff Sport Series delivers and I never once got burned on the
hands or wrists when wearing these gloves. The Sport Series delivers the same
50+ UPF rating as the Pro Series gloves and one thing that I actually liked
better about the Sport Series gloves is how long the wrist cuff is. It easily
extends well beyond the wrist so that when long sleeve shirts creep up when
fishing your still covered.

Even when wet
the silicon palm provides a solid grip

The Sport Series Gloves
may not offer as much protection from sharp objects or abrasive surfaces as the
Pro Series but it provides more dexterity. These gloves are very easy to move in
and feel slightly less restrictive when palming reels or making a fist than many
competing gloves. This makes them excellent for fly fishing as these they will
provide excellent grip and still allow anglers to strip line naturally.

The gloves
provide excellent sun protection

Durability:
The Buff Sport Gloves are definitely not as durable as the Pro Series as they do
not feature layers of varying materials to add strength, and the upper thumb and
finger portions were damaged by bass teeth during testing. The stitching on the
gloves is good and while we noticed some fraying in the finger cut offs the
gloves held up well over months of use and did not split at any of the seams.

Even when wet
I was able to maintain a solid grip on baitcasters

Price & Applications:
There are four sizes available (XS/S, S/M, M/L, L/XL) and the Sport Series
gloves retail for $29.99 each. If I only could have one glove for fishing I
would still opt for the more durable and hard wearing Buff Pro Series, but if
you are looking for a glove that addresses watersports more-so than conventional
fishing the Sport Series does offer a lot of benefits that go beyond just
angling applications, for example if you are spending more time “in” the water
than above the water then the Sport Series is the better choice. Compared to the
Simms Sungloves we reviewed back in 2008 the Buff Sport Series offers more
protection from the sun and scrapes due to a complete glove design versus the
Simms offering which has an open palm design. Since our original review Simms
has updated their SunGlove design but the new design still does feature a open
palm configuration.

Ratings:

Buff
Sport
Series Glove
Ratings
(?/10)

Construction/Quality

The Pro
Series
gloves
are
armored
with a
combination
of materials
like Dupont®
and
Clarino™
and the
Sport
Series
places
greater
emphasis
on a
more
naturally
contoured
design
with
nylon/lycra
material

8

Performance

When it
comes to
comfort
and
dexterity
the new
Sport
Series
Gloves
are
excellent
but they
are not
as
durable
as the
Pro
Series
and did
take
damage
from
abrasive
surfaces
including
micro
bass
teeth

8

Price

A
lot
cheaper
than the
Pro
Series
these
gloves
are
priced
reasonably

8

Features

Great
UPF
protection,
silicon
grips,
naturally
contouring
design,
wrist
and
finger
pulls
for easy
on and
off

8

Design
(Ergonomics)

Great
fit and
extremely
comfortable.
The
fabric
is
breathable
and
dries
quickly
yet
provides
a solid
grip at
all
times

8.5

Application

Best
used for
lighter
angling
applications
and
excellent
for
waterports
requiring
you to
get wet

The Sport
Series Gloves takes some damage from bass teeth and is better used for fly
fishing. This is a glove for watersports first and foremost and we love how
comfortable it is

Conclusion:
The Sport Series Gloves are a good addition to the Buff lineup and are designed
primarily for watersport enthusiasts. These are not the best gloves for bass
anglers as the material can be roughed up by either tools or bass themselves but
they are excellent for fly fishing and any sports where you are in close contact
with water like kayaking and water skiing. The Sport Series provides excellent
protection from the sun and light abrasion and is able to dry quickly and still
remain somewhat comfortable even when completely drenched. The Pro Series is
still our choice for extreme angling like trips to the Amazon but when it comes
to wading and fly fishing applications anglers now have another quality option
with the Buff Sport Series.